Bamboo culm used to beat woman in Athens homeless camp

Lamar Lindbergh Burgess

By Joe Johnson

A 53-year-old woman was attacked by a homeless man who beat her with a bamboo culm at a camp in the woods on the outskirts of town, according to police.

The victim said that her neighbor at the camp behind 4125 Jefferson Road had asked for a cigarette early Monday morning, and when she denied the request, Lamar Lindbergh Burgess used a bamboo culm to beat her.

She called 911 from a convenience store across the street from the camp, and an officer who responded saw the woman had injuries to her face, arm and leg and that there was bleeding in one of her eyes.

The victim was transported to the hospital and Burgess was located in an abandoned building, where police said the bamboo weapon was recovered.

Burgess, 53, was arrested on a battery charge, and as of Wednesday he remained incarcerated at the county jail.